Removable grouser for track links



Why 15, 1923. 1,455,490 V P. E. HOLT REMOVABLE GROUSER FOR TRACK LI-NKS Filed May 20, 1918 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VENTOR.

j zz zzyli o ZZ B Y A TTORNE Y5 P; E. HOLT REMOVABLE GROUTSER FOR TRACK LQINKS' Filed May 20, 1918 2 sheets-s et 2 A TTORNE Yl 25 cleats or grousers, because they tear'up or arr at PLINY'E. HOLT, OF STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE HOLT MANUFACTURING v COMPANY, or s'roonromcnmromvm, A

CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA.

REMOVABLE GROUSEIR- FOR TRACK LINKS.

Application filed May 20, 1918. Serial No. 235,644.-

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, PLINY E. HOLT, a c1t1- zen of-the United States, residing at Stockspecification.

This. invention relates to self-laying tracks for chain track tractors and other 7 vehicles, and pertains especially to the links entering into the composition of the chain tracks. I a

' These chain tracks or tread belts are usually supplied with outwardly projecting ribs or g'rousers to provide traction. Such a construction is exemplified in co-pending application Serial Number 132,056,filed November 18th, 1916.

While it is perniissible to use grousers of most any style or type in operating anywhere except upon highways and surfaced roads, it is not permissible in many localities and jurisdictions to drive. a tractorv'over a finished highway, street or road shod with injure the roadway. I

' The present invention has been designedto meet these rules and requirements of the authorities so as to permit 'the'u-se of flat treads on good roads and at the same time to ermit the traction grousers or cleats to be attached quickly when they are needed.-

Having reference to' the accompanying "drawings Fi '1 is a plan view of two links coupled. to et er. I

ig. 2 is a side view of same. Fig. 3 is an end- View of the link and grouser.

Fig. 4 is a cross section taken on the line showing the track and grouser.

Fi 8 is-a detail side elevation, partly in section, of the preferred form of link and grouser.

vention.

form as applied to Fig.9 is a cross section taken on the line 99 of Fig. 8.

links, each link comprising a tread plate 2 and the upstanding rail sections 3, having rail heads on which the truck rollers are A is a chain track composed of conjoined A adaptedto run; The tread plate 2' and the rail sections are preferably cast integral.

The tread plates 2 areof suitable length and breadth to provide the desired tread surface. Usually they extend a substantial v distance to each sideof a pair of rail 'sections 3 and are practically coincident in length with the length of the sections 3; the adjacent ends of the tread plates being arcuate in form, as indicated at 4;, and adapted to provide-overlapping wipe joints to err-- clude sand, gravel and dirt from entering upwardly into interference with the tracks, and the truck rollers which run thereon.

The tread plates aresmooth, at least-they are not abruptly corrugated on their outer surfages, so that if the track is used with the tread plates alone as the bearing surface the track belt can travel over a roadway without injury to'the latter,no matter what the road surfacing may be. As a matter of fact," as above stated, it is one of the main objects of this invention to provide a traccan be operated on smooth roads without injury to theroad surface and can'work equally as well in soft or'yielding ground with maximum traction. i

This traction for soft places is provided by the grousers, indicated at 5. Itis the construction of. these grousers 5 and their means of attachment to the tread plates that constitute the essence of the present in- As here shown, these grousers 5 comprise castings or drop forgings with an outstanding V-shaped wedge adapted to biteinto the round; this outstanding wedge extending a substantial distance across the faceof the tread' late.

In Figs. 7, 8 and 9 is shown the preferred military, use. 1 to 6, incluslve, I show a modification in which the traction is providedwith theangular gripping flange 6 with the eXten-' In Figs.

sions 7 adjacent to and parallel with the side edges of the plate. The point of the V faces to the rear, when on the ground, with the apex approximately centrally of the width of the plate. It will be manifest that the grouser casting or forging will generally fit the contour of the tread plate.

The outstanding V-shaped flan e 6 and its lateral and rear extensions 7 affhrd traction and insure against side slip.

The grousers of whatever form, whether straight, as in Figs. 7, 8 and 9101' angular,

are quickly attachable and detachable by T-bolt 10 is shown as hinged tothe grouser and in Fi s. 6. and 9 the T-bolt 10 is 'in the form of a rigid extension of the grouser, being cast or forged integrally therewith.

' The contiguous faces of the grousers and tread platesare made conformable," In the;

military type, illustrated-in Figs, 7, '8 and 9, it ispreferable to position the grousers as near the point of articulation of the links as possible, in view .of the heavy superposed lo'ad. Inasmuch as the straight, V-shaped grouser used in this case is comparatively narrow, it is desired to give as much'sup port as possible and hence it is that its underside is concaved to fit the convexity l3 of the overlapping 'end, of the; complementary. track shoe.

' In operation, a rouser is attached by simply hooking-a T- olt 10 or 10- into a recess 12 provided on that side of the link, laying the grouser across 'the'tread surface of the tread plate, pushing the hinge clamping bolt 11 into its recess 12, and then tightening up on the clamp nut 14;; the top edge faces of thewalls forming the slots or recesses 12. being straight andat right angles to the length of said slots to provide square seats, as shown at '15, for the head 16 of the T-bolt 10 and for the nut 14, so that when the nut is tightened there is no possibility of the parts, being displaced by the T -head or nut slipping.

- .The tread plates all being symmetrical,

that is, the slots 12 being identicaf on each, side and the grousers being substantially symmetrical, they are interchangeable with right or left side tracks, and it would only be necessary tdassemble-the clamp bolt 11' with the ,grousers, so that'the clampubolt, wgh its adjusting nut, is always on the. outs1 e.

As before stated, this. construction allows the use of flat treads on good roads and permits the grousers to \be attached quickly when they are. neededf Further thereby forming av strengthening flange. In Figs. 3 and 4 the more, as the nuts 14 are always at the outer edge of the tracks and removed. asulostantial distance from the tread surface, it renders the securing means readily accessible from the inside of the tread even with the grouser upon the ground.

It is obvious'thatvarious changes may be made in the details of'construction and in the form and proportions of the parts without in any wise departing from the spirit 'of the invention.

Having thus described my invention,what

I claim and desire tosecure by Letters Pat;

cut is 1-. Incombination with a track-link having a permanent shoe formed with a comparatively smooth and even. tread surface, with.

its inner and outer sides formed with upstanding portions, means for converting the smooth tread surface of the shoe into irregular surface, comprising a detachable grouser to fit over the tread surface -of the shoe, and means carried at opposite ends of'the grouser to grip the upstanding 'por t-ions of the shoe for retaining the grouser in place.

2. The combination with a track link having'a flat tread surface, the opposite-edges of the surface portion of the track link being inwardly turned and provided with. slots, of a detachable grouser having securing members engageable in said slots.

' 3. In combination with a track-link hav-' ing a permanent shoe formedwith acomparatively smooth and even tread surface, of -means' to convert the smooth tread surface of'the shoe into an irregular surface,

ccnprising a detachable grouser to fit over the shoe, means on the. grouser to engage the opposite sides ;of thes'hoe whereby to prevent fore and aft displacement, and

means on the grouser to grip the inner and outer edges of the shoe for retaining the grouser in place.

4. A track link for endless chain track vehicles, comprising parallel side rails, tread plates castintegrally therewith and extending upwardly from the opposite sides thereof, upwardly and outwardly inclined recesses. forined in said tread plates at the outer sides. of the rails, .and removable grousers with locking means to rest within the recesses and to thereby lock the shoes in position.

5. A detachable grouser comprising a tread member having a T-bolt at one side and a clamping bolt at. the other side. fiflThe combination of a tread plate and a grouser, said tread plate having slots in its opposite sides, and means engaging the grouser and the slots for detachably cona removable grouser to fit over each of the tread plates-end means at each end of the grouse-r to engage the adjacent mtnesses. edge of the tread plate, said fastening means comprising a gripper. member at one 5 end and a pivotally mounted clamping mem-- Witnesses: her at the other end of, the gronser. Jomv HQHE'RBING,

'- In testimony whereof I have hereunto set W; W. HEAI-ZEY.

niy hand in the presence of two 'subs cribing P'Lmi EQHOLTL 

